Перейти до вмісту
Beta
UK
УвійтиПочати

Ancient Proteins Show What Denisovans Looked Like

Scientists in China used protein analysis on ancient bones to identify Denisovan fossils, revealing new details about their appearance and spread.

B2Опубліковано Оновлено
Читайте крок за кроком

По одному абзацу: нові слова, граматика й коротка перевірка.

Scientists in China say they now have a clearer picture of the Denisovans, a group of ancient humans. The team, led by the geneticist Qiaomei Fu, studied about 20 fossils from a site called Xujiayao in the north of the country. The bones were found in the 1970s and are more than 130,000 years old. For many years, researchers were not sure which type of human they belonged to, and some called them a separate species named Homo juluensis.

Швидке запитання Заповніть пропуск · абзац 1
1/1

Введіть відповідь

The were found in the 1970s and are more than 130,000 years old.

1–4 обрати слово Enter перевірити / далі Esc пропустити

To solve the puzzle, the team tested tiny pieces of protein from two of the bones. Proteins last longer than DNA, so they can still be read in very old fossils. The scientists found one small change in the protein collagen that appears in Denisovans but not in modern humans or Neanderthals. This marked the Xujiayao people as Denisovans. Together with a skull from the city of Harbin, identified last year, the fossils show a heavy face with a low, sloping forehead, thick brow ridges and flat cheeks. The skull cap is wide and thick, while the sides of the skull are tall, like ours.

Швидке запитання Заповніть пропуск · абзац 2
1/1

Введіть відповідь

The found one small change in the protein collagen that appears in Denisovans but not in modern humans or Neanderthals.

1–4 обрати слово Enter перевірити / далі Esc пропустити

Other experts call the study a big step, and they say it suggests that Denisovans lived across a wide area and may have been quite varied. Still, many questions remain. Only two of the twenty fossils were tested, and no DNA was found, so the link between all the bones is not certain. Some scientists also argue that proteins alone are not enough to prove who a fossil belongs to. New finds and better lab methods may change the picture again.

Швидке запитання Знайдіть помилку · абзац 3
1/1

Введіть відповідь

One word is in the wrong form: “live”. Type the correct form of that word.

Other experts call the study a big step, and they say it suggests that Denisovans live across a wide area and may have been quite varied.

Enter перевірити / далі Esc пропустити

Теми Наука

Збережіть вивчене

Додайте нове з цього тексту до колоди, щоб воно поверталося на повторення.

Фінальна перевірка · приблизно 2 хв

Запитання з усього тексту. Ваші відповіді прокачують слова, фрази та граматику.

Speaking

Поговоріть про цей текст уголос

Дві хвилини, безкоштовно. Відкрийте асистента з готовим промптом, увімкніть голос і відповідайте на кілька питань про текст. Тут нічого не записується.

Ваш рівень
  1. Крок 1Оберіть застосунок: ChatGPT або Claude.
  2. Крок 2Натисніть кнопку голосу.
  3. Крок 3Дайте вголос відповіді на 4–5 питань.
Відкрити в ChatGPT

Питання, початки речень і слова

Питання

  1. ДумкаWhy do you think people are so interested in early humans and their relatives?
  2. ДумкаIs it a good idea to spend money on studying very old bones? Why or why not?
  3. ДосвідHave you ever visited a museum or a historical site that made you think about the past? What was it like?
  4. ДосвідTell me about a time when you learned something that changed what you believed before.
  5. Що якWhat if scientists could bring back one extinct human group? Would it be a good idea?
  6. Що якIf you could travel back 130,000 years for one day, what would you take with you?

Нема що сказати? Почніть так

  • I think that...
  • In my opinion, scientists should...
  • One thing that surprises me is...
  • If I had the chance, I would...

Слова з тексту

  • fossil B2
  • ancient B1
  • protein B2
  • forehead B1
  • cheek B1
  • species B2
  • researcher B1
  • evidence B2
Показати промпт
# Speaking practice: Ancient humans and how we learn about them

You are my friendly English conversation partner. We talk by voice, so keep every reply short: one to three sentences. Speak English only.

First ask me, in one short question, what my English level is, then use words and sentences at that level.

Topic: Ancient humans and how we learn about them. It comes from a short text called “Ancient Proteins Show What Denisovans Looked Like”.

Ask these questions one at a time. Wait for my answer, react to it in a few words, then ask the next one.

1. Why do you think people are so interested in early humans and their relatives?
2. Is it a good idea to spend money on studying very old bones? Why or why not?
3. Have you ever visited a museum or a historical site that made you think about the past? What was it like?
4. Tell me about a time when you learned something that changed what you believed before.
5. What if scientists could bring back one extinct human group? Would it be a good idea?
6. If you could travel back 130,000 years for one day, what would you take with you?

If I get stuck, give me one of these sentence starters or make the question easier:

- I think that...
- In my opinion, scientists should...
- One thing that surprises me is...
- If I had the chance, I would...

Encourage me to use these words from the text:

- fossil (B2)
- ancient (B1)
- protein (B2)
- forehead (B1)
- cheek (B1)
- species (B2)
- researcher (B1)
- evidence (B2)

Rules:

- Do not correct me while I speak. Let me finish my thought.
- Quietly keep a list of my mistakes and of the new words I used or needed.
- When I say we are done, or after the last question, give me a summary: my mistakes with the corrected sentences, the new words with a short meaning each, and one thing to practise next.

Start now with the first question.

Гарячі клавіші